A statement from Buckingham Palace said: ‘It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.’ Other members of the Royal Family have been informed of his death and it is expected that flags across the country will be lowered to half mast. The Duke, the longest-reigning consort in British history, had recently been treated at King Edward VII Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital for an infection. He returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in hospital – his longest ever stay. He initially received care for an infection but then underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition. Philip – father to the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June. Over the coming days funeral arrangements will be made for Philip, who was married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 70 years.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: ‘It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.’ Other members of the Royal Family have been informed of his death and it is expected that flags across the country will be lowered to half mast. The Duke, the longest-reigning consort in British history, had recently been treated at King Edward VII Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital for an infection. He returned to Windsor Castle on March 16 to be reunited with the Queen after spending a month in hospital – his longest ever stay. He initially received care for an infection but then underwent heart surgery for a pre-existing condition. Philip – father to the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex – was just two months away from his 100th birthday in June. Over the coming days funeral arrangements will be made for Philip, who was married to Queen Elizabeth II for more than 70 years.
Giving a statement outside No 10, Boris Johnson compared the Queen’s husband to an ‘expert carriage driver’ who ‘helped to steer the Royal Family and the monarchy so that it remains an institution indisputably vital to the balance and happiness of our national life’. He added: ‘He was an environmentalist and a champion of the natural world long before it was fashionable.
‘With his Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, he shaped and inspired the lives of countless young people and at literally tens of thousands of events he fostered their hopes and encouraged their ambitions.’
The Duke, who officially retired from royal duties last May, is remembered for a lifetime of service and dedication after rising from exile from Greece as a young child. Over the years he carried out more than 22,000 solo engagements and gave more than 5,400 speeches, as well as taking part in thousands of other engagements with the Queen and committing himself to innumerable obligations behind the scenes. The duke had a profound effect on the development of the British monarchy and was a moderniser of The Firm Labour leader Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘The United Kingdom has lost an extraordinary public servant in Prince Philip. Prince Philip dedicated his life to our country – from a distinguished career in the Royal Navy during the Second World War to his decades of service as the Duke of Edinburgh.’
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘I am saddened by news that the Duke of Edinburgh has died. I send my personal and deepest condolences – and those of @scotgov and the people of Scotland – to Her Majesty The Queen and her family.’ Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia, praised his service to the Commonwealth and the Duke of Edinburugh Award scheme that helped over 775,000 young Australians. ‘Australians send our love and deepest condolences to her Majesty and all the Royal family. The Commonwealth family joins together in sorrow and thanksgiving for the loss and life of Prince Philip. God bless from all here in Australia,’ he said.
– metro.co.uk
